Submission Opportunities: August 2025

---

Books & Pieces Magazine|Deadline: Unstated, recently opened to submissions

Monthly online magazine where new authors’ stories can appear beside bestselling authors’ interviews

Fee: No | Pay: No

Type: Fiction/Nonfiction/Poetry/Visual Arts

Notes: New writer friendly

---

CRAFT First Chapters Contest | Deadline: CLOSING SOON – AUG 10

The contest is for the beginning chapter or chapters of a novel/novella-length writing. Judge Alejandro Heredia is especially interested in the interaction between setting and character.

Fee: $20 | Pay: First Place receives $2000 and a full manuscript review of up to 100k words

Type: Fiction

Notes: 5,000 word count maximum, but stop at a logical stopping point for best results.

---

F(r)iction Fall 2025 Contests | Deadline: November 7

F(r)iction highly recommends that you read a previous issue before submitting. They are committed to publishing boundary-pushing, weird, and wild writing.

Fee: $10-15 | Pay: Short Story – $1,000, Poetry/Flash – $300

Type: Fiction (short story and flash) and Poetry

Notes: For an idea of what they like, read past winners here

---

Every Day Fiction | Deadline: Currently open

Every Day Fiction likes to keep it short. One thousand words is the max, and shorter is better as long as it tells a full story.

Fee: N/A | Pay: $3 CAD

Type: Flash Fiction

Notes: Does not accept simultaneous submissions but will respond within 90 days.

---

Doric Literary | Deadline: Currently open

Doric Literary is looking for ‘classically inspired’ short stories. They say that if your work feels like Flannery O’Connor, they’ll probably be a good fit.

Fee: none! | Pay: 10 USD / 13.50 CAD honourarium

Type: literary short fiction

Notes: They responded to me very quickly. I’m not sure if that’s always the case, and they don’t make any promises on their site — but a quick yes/no is pure gold for those of us on the Path. (Alex)

---

The Iowa Review | Deadline: 1 Oct

The Iowa Review is a super-cool magazine with super-cool art. (Alex).

Fee: $4 | Pay: $0.08 per word

Type: short fiction, poetry, or visual art

---

EPOCH| Deadline: 31 Aug

Again, I’m a sucker for beautiful covers, and EPOCH has stacks. Check out Volume 71. (Alex)

Fee: $3 | Pay: yes; payments vary throughout the year

Type: short fiction, poetry, visual art

---

Michigan Quarterly Review| Deadline: 1 Nov

Jesmyn Ward is an alum of Michigan’s writing program.

Fee: $3 | Pay: yes

Type: short fiction, poetry

Notes: Average response time is 6 months, but it may take up to a year.

---

Joyland Magazine| Deadline: Year-round

All submissions must be in English. Translations are welcome. Simultaneous submissions are allowed. They consider fiction submissions (short stories and stand-alone novel excerpts) of up to 12,000 words.

Fee: $5 | Pay: $200

Type: short fiction

Notes: Average response time is 12-16 weeks.

---

Val Wood Prize| Deadline: August 31

This year, the Val Wood Prize invites writers to explore the theme of Secrets.

​The judging panel wants to uncover the hidden truths, untold histories, private thoughts, and concealed moments that shape lives. Whether it’s a shocking revelation, a personal confession, a historical cover-up, or a truth no one dares to speak — they’re looking for stories that show the emotional weight and human impact of secrets.

Fee: No | Pay: 100 euros

Type: short fiction – max 1,500 words

Notes: More details on the site. Winners will be announced on Friday, 28 November 2025

---

Virginia Quarterly Review| Deadline: August 15

VQR has a long history of publishing accomplished and award-winning authors; they also seek and support emerging writers. 

Fee: $3| Pay: For poetry, $200 per poem, up to 5 poems. For prose, approximately 25 cents per word, depending on length.

Type: fiction (2,500–8,000 words), non-fiction (3,000–7,000 words), poetry.

Notes: Not interested in genre fiction (such as romance, science fiction, or fantasy). Have a cap of 750 submissions.